Nutty Notion

OPINION

Our Position: Orange Commissioners Should Reject A Wacky Road Plan That Would Hurt The Wekiva.

February 8, 2004|By Fuchsia

Less than four months ago, Orange County Commissioner Bob Sindler passionately and publicly defended a resolution supporting consensus efforts to complete a beltway loop around Orlando.

In fact, Mr. Sindler laid out in accurate and specific detail how environmentalists, developers and others were working to design a road that would both meet regional transportation needs and protect water resources and wildlife in the Wekiva River Basin. Bravo!

What happened?

In a bizarre turn of events, Mr. Sindler now says he doesn't "recall" making those statements at a videotaped meeting of the Orange County Commission, during which he also sought support for a new toll road south of Apopka. Mr. Sindler has a new plan of his own -- simply to widen existing roads in northwest Orange County and invite developers to pillage the environmentally sensitive watershed.

Has Mr. Sindler quite literally lost his mind?

Avoiding that scenario was precisely why Gov. Jeb Bush convened two task forces on the Wekiva. Mr. Sindler even sits as Orange County's representative on the current panel, yet two weeks ago he cast the sole vote against Wekiva-protection recommendations that included a completed beltway.

Fortunately, Orange County commissioners have an opportunity to correct Mr. Sindler's colossal lapse in judgment when they meet Tuesday to discuss legislative priorities. They can and should enthusiastically endorse the Wekiva panel's recommendations.

Mr. Sindler is way out on a limb. And that's where he -- and his cockamamie ideas -- belongs.